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The self-titled album from heavy hitter Pathology is upon us. This is the 9th release from a band who’ve been the gateway for many when it comes to slamming brutal death metal. Formed in 2006 by legendary drummer Dave Astor (founder of Cattle Decapitation and The Locust) Pathology have released a new album every single year, amazing work if I do say so myself. Alongside bands such as Abominable Putridity, Devourment, Visceral Disgorge and Kraanium my journey into the slam world began a few years ago. I’ll tell you right now, I am not an insanely big slam fan just as I isn’t with brutal death metal (granted I enjoy BDM more). There is simply too much shit within the genre. As I read somewhere on Reddit some time ago “for every good slam band, there’s 50 shitty ones”. I think that summarizes quite well what I think of the genre. That being said Pathology is one of the bands that do produce some wicked good slam!

Pig squeals, gutturals, chuggy groovy riffs full of breakdowns your thing? Hell Pathology got you covered once again my friend! Their 9th release is just as brutal as their old albums and when tracks like Servitors, Putrescent or Shudder comes on you just have to get fucking mental. The thing with slam is I think it has a ceiling to it that prevents it from staying in my playlist for a longer amount of time. It’s simplicity and overall trying too hard to sound brutal as fuck all the time is good for a few spins during the year but it’s generally not something I remember. It goes in one ear and out the other.

Pathology suffers from the same fate. Whereas I think this is almost as good as it gets within the genre, the genre in itself has a limitation to it. I had a good time with Pathology, just as I do with all their albums, but this isn’t something I will remember for long. For you hardcore slam fans out there though this is a must have.

Ah Katalepsy, one of the two Moscow giants of slam together with Abominable Putridity. Both who recently signed with Unique Leader Records, a label known for their quality brutal death metal. Saying that the stakes have been high for Katalepsy to perform after their latest brutal hit Autopsychosis.

With Gravenous Hour you can see the band move away a bit from the slam, leaning a bit more towards technical death metal. I am sure a few of the older fans will see this as a bad step and that it isn’t brutal enough anymore and I can get that. I however really like this new direction. Blindead Sultan and Critical Black Mass are freaking great and even though they are not on par with the bands monster of a song Cold Flesh Citadel (one of the best brutal songs ever made in my opinion and got me into the band) they do add something different to Katalepsy’s releases and there is no denying that it’s good brutal death metal.

So to sum it I think it’s a good album, a bit different from what I expected but still a really good listen. Katalepsy consists of some very talented musicians and I like they changed it up a bit, but didn’t do it too much. A great buy for any fan of the brutal metal school. Katalepsy – Gravenous Hour is out now by Unique Leader Records.